CURRENT MISSION

Explore the world and share fun experiences with fun and happy friendly people (from) all around the world

ABOUT ME

Hello there! My name is Marina and I am a half Greek, half Dutch tall girl.

Grew up in the Netherlands, always felt homesick for my birthground, the beautiful island of Crete (if you have time, please do visit the western part of Crete (Chania region) with paradise like beaches, beautiful mountains, very friendly people and good good food :)

Love to travel, for work and for holidays. I never want to go back home to my normal life when I am travelling. If you believe in reincarnation, I think I must have been a gypsy or a sailor, traveller or nomad in previous lifes ;)

The only thing that keeps me coming back home are my family and friends. If only I could include all of them on my travels...that would be great :D

Ever since I was little, during holidays we used to stay with friends and family, within the Netherlands on the farm of my uncle and aunt and abroad, with my family in Greece for example. I always liked being on the move, meeting different people and enjoying life in different places. That is something that has always stayed with me.
The world is simply too beautiful to keep walking in circles in the same place all the time.

Currently I live in the beautiful city of Delft. Delft is famous for its canals (it can also be described as little Amsterdam) and its Delft Blue Pottery, but it has much more to it.

Also, Delft is really close to major cities like Amsterdam (1 hour by train), The Hague with its beaches and Rotterdam (both 20 minutes by train) and Utrecht (1 hour by train).

Friends also call me festival girl, since I always know where there is a fun festival (and there are lots here...:) or know where there is a cool exhibition at a museum or gallery.

Also, I love to be outdoors, walking or cycling or swimming (only if the water is crystal clear, not in the muddy waters of the North Sea..) But I think the beaches here in Holland are fine too.

PHILOSOPHY

The best memories of life, are those of fun times spend with people you love, while doing what you love doing.

Life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.

Don't walk in front of me, for I may not follow
Don't walk behind me, for I may not lead,
Walk beside me and be my friend - Albert Camus

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Pay it back, or pay it forward?

I like the idea of CS that you host people and next time you will surf at somebody else's couch. I like every aspect of it!
Instead of paying back the hospitality you once received, you pay it forward :)

CS makes the world a smaller, but happier place. It makes it easier for more people to travel the world and meet eachother and learn from eachother. And even from a sustainable and economic point of view (remember I am an environmental consultant ;) I like the idea of sharing your couch / home with travellers :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

When I was little, Couch Surfing and even the internet did not exist yet.
Still, I stayed with friends, family and acquiantances for many times. It was always wonderful to feel welcome and know that their home was my home too. Especially in Greece hospitality is part of the country's long history and tradition.

Since I have my own appartment, many friends and family have stayed at my place and I loved hosting them. On my travels I have stayed at friends of friends houses and it was always great to get to know their cities through their eyes and stories, tips and tricks.

Also, for my work I organise events and study tours for colleagues and clients from all over the world. I love to show them this strange little country and tell the wonderful stories about people, places and customs that we have here.

Interests

Rock climbing, (Belly) dancing, Photography, Writing, Travelling, Museums and galleries art can move me very much I need my dose of beauty now and then, Cycling, Live gigs, Festivals, Friends, radio, and trying to make the most of what I have.

• arts
• writing
• folklore
• photography
• beauty
• festivals
• dancing
• dining
• breakfast
• walking
• flowers
• traveling
• pottery
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• backpacking
• surfing
• rock climbing
• swimming
• cartography
• history
• tours
• beaches
• mountains
• urban exploration

Music, Movies, and Books

Books that changed my (outlook on) life:
Man's search for meaning - Viktor Frankl
Hasse Simon's daughter - Thea Beckman
Anne Frank's diary
4hourworkweek - Timothy Ferris
Alain de Boton's books on philosophy

Movies:
WWW What a Wonderful World, Gegen die wand, Vengo,Das Boot, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Zaina la cavaliere de l'Atlas, Ali Zaoua,The Big Blue,The great dictator,Luna Papa,L' auberge espagnole,Todo sobre mi madre, Abre los Ojos, Robin Hood prince of thieves, Ronja, Zorba the Greek, Captain Corelli's mandolin, Indigenes,300, Precious, Color Purple, Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Hotel Rwanda, The motorcycle diaries, The Joy of madness, Abjad (the first letter),Love Ajkal, Offside,Lilja 4ever, Le grand voyage, Le grain et le mullet, Soul kitchen, Crossing the bridge - The sound of Istanbul, Kids and many more
Series:
Seaforth Saga, Tudors, Toren C, A'dam E.V.A., The summer of '45, Roots, Cold Feet, Pleidooi, Oud Geld, Bear Grylls, Band of Brothers, Generation Kill

Music:
Cheb Khaled, Cheba Rimitti, Cheb Mami, Arash, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Putumayo, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Selah Sue, Oi va Voi , Ojos de Brujo, Guano Apes, Manu Chao, Depeche Mode, Nadia, Shantel, Zaho, Gogol Bordello, The Decemberists, Anna Vissi, Elena Paparizou, Nikos Zoidakis, Outlandish, Amr Diab, Ofra Haza, Osdorp Posse, Flogging Molly, Rammstein,
Pulp, Beef, Sublime, Luie Hond, Gnawa music, Dabka music, Russian disco, Balkan music and Punjabi and many many many more

Websites:
Rori Raye, Zenhabits, Ridiculously extraordinary, until I get married, Timothy Ferris, Paulo Coelho, Osho, Seth Godin, TED, Anthony Robbins

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Morocco!
I have dreamt about going to Morocco since I was 16 and finally went there in 2008 when I was 28! Since there were loads of floods at that time, we only visited the western part (Atlantic Coast). In 4 weeks we travelled over 10.000 kilometers and went from Holland through Belgium, France and Spain to Morocco. From Tangier through Asilah to Marrakech, Agadir, Taroudannt and Taznakt.
Beautiful beautiful country and welcoming, friendly and proud people.
Can't wait to go back there and see more of it (the Rif and Atlas).

And Crete!!! of course. I can't find the words to describe my beautiful homeground. Go see it for yourself. It is very easy to get by with public transport. Just bring a backpack, tent and swim trousers :) Enjoy the flowers in spring time. The crystal clear blue water in Falassarna and Elafonissi with its pink beaches. Enjoy the delicious food. Go walking in the mountains. Wake up on a deserted beach and go swimming before breakfast. Smell the air filled with exotic herbs. Feel the warmth of the sun and of the friendly Cretan people. Participate in one on the chestnut festivals in the mountain villages in October. Celebrate Xmas while you can still wear a Tshirt during the day.

Crete IS my paradise :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to ride a bike and how to make spanakopita :)

I am really into urban exploration and festivals and I will probably take you to fun, free/outdoor events.

Also, I love collecting maps of all cities that I went to. And I can help you out on making an itinerary that suits your interests.

At the very least, I can hook you up with resources to make the most of your stay on a traveler's budget.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Greece, Netherlands

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